TEHRAN (Tasnim) – An Iranian lawmaker chairing a committee of the Parliamentary Union of Islamic nations called for Muslim unity and joint action to relieve tensions in the Islamic world.

Chairman of the 39th Executive Committee of a meeting of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States (PUIC), Kazem Jalali, highlighted the need for Muslim cooperation and unity in the face of common threats, including Takfiri terrorism.

In comments at the meeting in Tehran on Saturday, the Iranian lawmaker also deplored mounting tensions and conflicts among some Muslim countries, attributing them to wrong political calculations and misunderstandings.

Jalali also called for efforts to prevent a rebirth of the Daesh (ISIL) terrorist group, and voiced support for plans to help the countries that suffered from Daesh crimes repair the damages and move towards development.

The 13th meeting of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Member States (PUIC) kicked off in Tehran on Saturday to coordinate joint efforts among the parliaments of Muslim countries.

Preparations for the ongoing conference were made during an extraordinary meeting of the Parliamentary Union of OIC Member States (PUOICM) on Palestine, held in December.

The PUIC gathering in Tehran, which will last for five days, includes many events on its sidelines, including meetings of the PUIC Executive Committee, the 8th meeting of the Standing Committee on Palestine, and the 3rd consultation meeting of parliament speakers of member states.

The OIC, the second largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations, has around 60 members.

The organization, established in 1969, was created to protect the interests of Muslims and promote international peace.